Dear Editor,
This is in response to the article of Mr. Ramon Clarete published on 6 January 2019 on Property Valuation Service: Are we losing competitiveness?
I thank Mr. Ramon Clarete for his interest in our work and for the stimulating comments which highlights our profession and offer a broader perspective. I am certainly in agreement with the writer on the role of property valuation to economies in weathering crisis. However, I was appalled on some points of his letter and allow me to comment. His assertion on the maturity of the real estate appraisal profession; quality of service and the valuation standards are quiet disturbing.
Real estate appraisal in the country is in its infancy stage, as a profession. Even though it started in 1961 but it was considered as a trade rather than a profession. However, on July 2009, the passage into law of the Republic Act 9646 or the Real Estate Service Act of the Philippines (RESA), real estate appraisal has been recognized as a profession and strengthened.
Mr. Clarete pointed his pen on the 90% of the appraisers. He consistently mixes the know-how in real estate practice and the quality of service. However, Mr. Clarete misses the point. The number of appraisers might triple in number, but the question is do the opportunities to practice the profession also tripled?
To practice the profession, appraisers have been subjected to different barriers that only few can endure. Take for example the government projects under President Duterte, the Department of Public Works and Highways required appraisers to have an accreditation with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to qualify in a bidding. BSP has its own criteria in evaluating of appraisers outlined in their guidelines “BSP Acceptable Appraisal Companies for Ocular Inspection and Appraisal of Real Estate Properties”. To be part of the list, the appraiser or the appraisal company must comply with certain criteria to be accredited. One of which is the setting of company net worth to P 4 Million; and the other one is the setting of ten (10) years’ experience in real estate appraisal business as a requirement to manage and sign the appraisal report.
Securities and Exchange Commission, Energy Regulatory Commission other government agencies and even commercial banks have their own guidelines and requirement. It is not surprising that only 11 companies, as of December 31, 2017, were accredited by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and 22 under the BSP.
In the broader context, these accreditation requirements and non-implementation of certain provision of Real Estate Service Act have a multiplier effect to appraisal practice. Negating the appraisers of the opportunity to participate in government projects and practice their profession. And it has been 10 years now.
On the International Standards. Mr. Clarete should never forget that the International Valuation Standards was adopted and prescribed as the reference standards in the country only on October 2009, by prescribing the Philippine Valuation Standards. It is only since then that the country laid down the foundation, through education and training, in developing the capability of property appraisers in the country to be at par with other countries. Thus, appraisers now are attending international seminars and conferences to learn best practices of other countries and also share our situation and experiences. In an increasingly globalised world, the consistency and compatibility of standards across jurisdictions is an important issue
The valuation practice and standards in the appraisal are intertwined. Theories will remain a theory if it will not be applied. Provide the appraisers with the venue to practice their profession, and they will surely rise to a new and higher level of professional practice.
We should endeavour in helping real estate appraisers to developed and fulfil its role in the economy, society and our people and be globally competitive in professional practice and standards. #
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Real Appraisal 